Improvement in fastening scythes to the snath



E. S. CLAPP. Scythe Smith.-

Patented March 18, 1851.

"- PETERS, Pholouhognphnr, Walhillflon. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

E. S. OLAPP, OF MONTAGUE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FASTENING SCYTHES TO THE SNATH.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 7,984, dated March 18, 1851.

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, E. S. GLAPP, of Montague, in the county of Franklin and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manner of Attaching and Securing the Blades of Scythes to the Snaths; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a view, looking toward the under side of the blade. Fig. 2 is a view, looking toward the heel of the blade. Fig. 3 is a section of the collar, showing the mode of securing and adjusting theblade. Fig. 4-is an end view of the snath.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures.

The nature of my invention consists in certain improvements in the. mode of attaching and securing the blade of the scythe to the snath, by which I am enabled to regulate the position of the blade with regard to the snath, or to set the edge more up or down.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, 1 will proceed to describe fully its construction and operation.

A A, Figs. 1 and 2, is the scythe-snath, which is oft-he usual form.

B is a metalcollar or cap, whichfits tightly over the end of the snath, and is provided at its end with an aperture, a, (see Fig. 4,) large enough to admit the shank of the blade. One side of the collar has a strip or plate of metal, I), proceeding from it, extending some distance down the snath. Arecess is formed in theend of the snath within this plate b,"(see Fig. 3,) and an aparture, c, is formed in the plate. A projection, 11, extends beyond the end on the side of the cap, opposite the plate b.

e is a plate of metal, inserted at the bottom of the recess in the end of the snath, and secured in any convenient manner. It is furnished with a series of notches extended across it. (Seen through the aperture c, in Fig. 1.)

f is a small screw, which is inserted through the aperture 0, and screwed into the snath, so

as to leave but a small part projecting into the recess in the end of the snath. g is another screw, which screws into the face of the projection cl, standing out toward the center of the cap. I

C is the blade of the scythe. Its shank it back; to set it more out, more forward.

passes through the aperture a, and the point of the said shank fits into one of the notches in the plate 6. Near the heel, the face of the shank bears on the edge of the aperture a, in the cap B, a-notch being made across itat that point to prevent its slipping. When the shank is placed in the collar and its point set in one of the notches in the plate 0, the setscrew g is unscrewed from the projection d, so as to press upon the side of the heel of the blade and throw back the tail of the shank against the screw f, the edge of the hole a in the cap meanwhile forming. the fulcrum on which the shank, being a lever, is balanced by the pressure of'the screws fand g. The notch across the shank, where it bears upon the edge of the hole a,prevents its being drawn out from the collar, while side play is also prevented by the screws.

If it is required to alter the set of the blade, the screw 01 must be screwed back from the side of the heel. To set the blade more in, or with its point more toward the snath, the point of the shank must be placed in a notch farther If it is required to set the edge more up or down, or from or to the ground, the blade must be taken out and the position of the screw f altered to set the edge down, or more toward .the ground, must be unscrewed,-or screwed to bring the end farther out. To set the edge up or from the ground, the screw must be screwed farther in. The efi'ect of the screwfis best seen by referring to Fig. 3.

This mode of securing the scythe-blade to the snath holds it very secure, and is of great advantage, as when they are secured in the ordinary way the set of the scythe cannot be readily altered, and it is well known that different mowers require the scythe to be differently set, and it is also necessary to alter it for different kinds of work.

. What I claim as-new in my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is--

Setting the edge of the blade up or down or more or less obliquely by means of the adjusting-screw f, in combination with the edges of the aperture ct, which form the bearings of the two sides. of the shank of the blade, substantially in the manner herein set forth.

E. S. GLAPP.

Witnesses:

CHAS. A. MINIK, ALMON BRAINARD. 

